Cha Cruz’s advice to kids: Find the sport that best suits you and do it with passion
M ost a thletes gravitate towards the sport they excel in while others are sometimes “pushed into it.”
That’s what happened to Charleen Abigail Cruz, more popularly known as Cha to the volleyball community. Her parents got her into the sport at age 12, when she was in grade 6, and she didn’t appreciate the sport, so she stopped playing and was only forced back into it in her senior year.
But her God-given talent was obviously evident as she played collegiate ball at De La Salle University, being a vital component in winning titles at the UAAP in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012. That’s quite a feat!
Her career continues to rise as she competes in the Philippine SuperLiga, where is is also the league’s ambassadress! She was also recently part of the national team that played in a tournament in Thailand.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: Are you surprised at how the sport of volleyball has grown in recent years? Why do you think it’s grown so much?
CHARLEEN ABIGAIL CRUZ: To be honest, I would never have thought that volleyball would reach this level. But given the exposure and media coverage of the sport, I felt it’s about time that Filipino sports enthusiasts gave volleyball the credit it’s due. The reason why volleyball has grown so much isn’t directly because of the ladies you see on the court today, rather I believe that this has been a product of a long process which started with our seniors and coaches who have set a standard and jumping point for us to level up the game of volleyball.
You are still trying to improve your skills in the sport, how much time do you put in at this point?
Coming from a background where we are made to realize that there’s always room for improvement, I’m always seeking traditional and non-traditional ways to improve my game. For the former, I hit the gym, I run and go through therapy sessions. For the latter, I do Pilates, swimming, and more interesting workouts. But I have to admit that at my age, keeping myself healthy is just as important as learning new skills. When it comes to time management, I have fully devoted myself to volleyball, but still doing teaching and coaching on the side, a couple of my passions that I can never let go of. Though I’m pretty sure it’s going to be more challenging as I tackle my masters this term.
You represented the country in Thailand the other month, how was the experience?
It was great to represent the Philippines in an international stage and get to experience first hand a whole different level of volleyball. Also, I was able to gauge myself in comparison with the international players who play my position. It was both inspiring and eye opening seeing how much I still need to improve and making me realize that Philippine volleyball with the right resources and program can develop formidable contenders someday.
What would you still want to achieve in the sport? Are you excited about the next season of the PSL?
When it comes to volleyball, I feel like there is a lot of young people out there who are just looking for the right opportunity to show their talents. I just want to play with zest and enthusiasm, showing my God-given talent and love for the game and hoping that I could inspire future volleyball players whom I know could make a huge difference someday.
For this upcoming PSL Conference, I’m undoubtedly excited not only because I’ll be playing with familiar faces but also because the level of all teams deserves attention. I see that every game will be a grind and would only result in lessons learned and, hopefully, wins.
Would you encourage young kids to choose volleyball as their sport?
I have an obvious bias for volleyball, haha! So, my initial reaction would be yes! But thinking deeper into the question, I believe that the importance of playing a sport is not the nature of the activity but the passion for doing it. So, my advice to children who are looking to get into sports is to not follow the hype but try all sorts and kinds to find which one best suits them. And when they find their passion, skills and development will surely follow.
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